A Guide to Student Events at the 2016 AAPA Annual Meeting

Submitted 1 March 2016 by Melanie Beasley

While all events at the AAPA benefit from student involvement, the following highlighted events were compiled by the Student Committee as being of particular interest for students this year. The list includes AAPA and affiliated events not directly organized by AAPA. All AAPA events are indicated by a preceding ‘AAPA’ in the title.

Priority Social Events for Students

Since the meetings can be overwhelming, if you can only attend a few student-oriented events, then consider prioritizing the following which are FREE to attend:

Wednesday, 4-5 pm (Rm A702)

AAPA Student Committee Meeting: Come meet with the Student Liaisons to the Executive Committee and contribute your ideas for how to serve the AAPA student membership better.

Wednesday, 5-6 pm (Rm A702)

AAPA Student Meet and Greet: The goal of the event is to introduce student members, especially first-time attendees, to early career AAPA members who can answer questions about graduate school, careers in physical (biological) anthropology, and the society itself. Essentially this is an opportunity to welcome students. Check out the AAPA Student Facebook page to get updates and profiles of the early career members who will be attending (https://www.facebook.com/groups/AAPAstudentmembers/).

Wednesday, 6-8 pm (Atrium Ballroom A)

AAPA 6th Annual Committee on Diversity (COD) Undergraduate Research Symposium: This is a wonderful and enriching experience for undergraduates to present their original research. It is a great time to meet other students and support your colleagues.

Wednesday, 8-11 pm (Skyline Level 10)

AAPA Opening Reception: A must-attend event for all students. This is the biggest networking event of the entire meeting. It is a great time to meet up with old friends, make new friends, and track down any professors who you want to meet.

Thursday, 4:30-9:30pm (Rm A601)

AAPA Silent and Live Auctions: It is always fun to check out the items up for bid. Make sure to enter to win the Lunch with Luminaries. The lunch provides a small group of students to attend a private lunch with senior scientists in biological anthropology. Lunch is FREE. But you have to be present during the drawing to win. Also, make sure to buy a raffle ticket for the 50/50 raffle which, like all auction proceeds, supports AAPA student travel awards – half the cash pot goes to the winner and half towards student awards. Make sure to be present for the LIVE Auction starting at 6:30.

Thursday, 5-6:30pm (Rm A703)

Physical Anthropology Women’s Mentoring Network (PAWMN) Happy Hour: A great event for women at all career stages in biological anthropology. Female undergraduate and graduate students are especially encouraged to participate. This event is attended by many established female scientists who are interested in peer networking and mentoring the next generation of women scholars in biological anthropology. Come armed with your questions of how to navigate academia, juggle family and work, and any other questions you may have. For women at the graduate level and above, please join the Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/pawmn/) or get involved via LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/groups/Physical-Anthropology-Womens-Mentoring-Network-2975540/about).

Thursday, 8-10pm (Atrium Foyer)

AAPA-Wiley Reception: In conjunction with the Auction, another great networking event to eat, drink and discuss biological anthropology. Wiley is the publisher of the American Journal of Physical Anthropology.

Friday, 4-6pm (TBD)

BANDIT Happy Hour: Biological Anthropology Developing Investigators Troop (BANDIT), a community bringing together a troop of like-minded primates lucky enough to have a career studying other primates, hosts a happy hour event for those on the job market and the tenure track, in the lab and the field, from post-defense to pre-tenure, adjuncts, assistants, visitors, and academic hobos of all stripes. They welcome everyone and it is a great time! Don’t miss it! Check for details about the event on their blog (www.aapabandit.blogspot.com).

Friday, 5:45-8pm (Imperial Ballroom B)

AAPA Business Meeting and Lifetime Awards: It is important to get involved early in your career with the AAPA. Open to all members, this is a great event to attend to better understand how the AAPA works and hear reports from all the committees at large. Come discuss and debate the current issues, hear updates from the Executive Committee and celebrate your colleague’s awards.

Friday, 8:30pm-??? (meet in the lobby of the Marriott)

AAPA Committee on Diversity (COD) GAYAPA Social Event: This fun, all-inclusive group arranges an outing for everyone to go have a fun night on the town. Please meet in the lobby of the conference hotel (The Marriott Marquis). Your $5 donation will go to support a local LGBT Advocacy group. They are hoping to raise a glass and raise some money, so come join in on the fun!

Saturday, 6-9pm (Imperial Ballroom B)

AAPA Closing Reception and Student Prize Awards: One last chance to share some food, raise a glass, and discuss all the hot topics that occurred at the annual meeting. Come support your fellow students as this is when the student awards are announced – and maybe collect a prize for yourself!

Hot Topic Panels:

Thursday, 5-6:30pm (Rm A706/707)

AAPA Committee on Diversity Title IX Presentation: E. Janyce Dawkins, JD/MBA University of Georgia Director of Equal Opportunity and Title IX coordinator will explain what Title IX is, how it works, and how seek help at your institution.